Every Saturday Mr.Mohan Samarakoon teaches English to the needy children in a school closer to his home in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Last Saturday when I joined the Awareness program for tuberculosis day organised by the Medical fraternity of the General Hospital Kandy, I was also taken to see one of his English classes in session.

I noticed that Mr.Samarakoon was a very strict disciplinarian - and there were quite a few children who were put out of class for a few minutes, but his teaching methods were good, and discipline was needed to shape these young minds that would sometimes wander away ! The class was neat and well kept as were the children whose uniforms were simple yellow and green T-shirt with a sign that read PLANT A TREE which made them aware of planting a small tree and to keep its environment and surroundings clean and above all to protect it.

I thought this a very good yeoman service rendered by Mr.Samarakoon, who paid for these childrens leaning from his own pocket. We need more people like him, to help the less privileged. The students had learned a lot and recited poems and gave a small talk about themselves, and sang an English song. They were also taught to speak of the recently elected President of the US which unfortunately we could not listen to as Mr.Samarakoon had a busy schedule ahead, but hopefully we will hear it next time, that was something I would look forward to as the US and the Presidential election is one of my pet and favorite topics !